Hard all the same

I’ve recently come back from holiday, and I know what a privilege it is to be able to take a few weeks out, go home, connect with my family, and have a proper break.

But this little bit of time out of routine comes with its own set of drawbacks, ones I’m well aware of, but that are hard all the same. Every time!

You see, before I left, I was in a good training routine. A goal I’d set for myself this year (or at least before my 40th) was to hit a double bodyweight deadlift, something I’ve never come close to before. To be honest, the number on the bar is a bit arbitrary, but sometimes it’s good to have a goal like this in order to focus your training for a while.

So there I was, following a really measured approach and starting to see some progress, when it was time to leave.

When I got back, I was itching to return to training. I hit a few sessions that first week, choosing some of my favourite exercises and going decently hard, but nothing crazy, as I knew I needed to ease back in.

But I didn’t touch deadlifts. In the back of my mind was this thought: “Man, I have to start all over again.” I knew I’d have to bring the weight back a few weeks and build again, which can be tough. It became a bit of a mental barrier. But I’m also experienced enough to know that progress doesn’t happen by itself. I just needed to flex the muscle memory and get the first session done, which I did about 20 minutes ago.

Ahhhh! Relief. It’s done. Now I can move on, look forward to next week, and slowly build back to where I was before the holiday.

It’s actually quite similar to these emails, which I love to write, but again, I got in my own head. People don’t want to hear what I have to say. Why would they care? Is it a waste of time?

But then I remind myself why I started writing them in the first place. Firstly, it’s an outlet for my brain. I’ve really enjoyed writing over the last year or so. I know I’m no author, but there’s something helpful about getting thoughts out of your head and onto paper.

Secondly, if just one of these emails helps someone, or connects with them, it’s more than worthwhile.

I can help people face-to-face, push them in training, or hold space for them if they need it. But what if you’re in a rut, not currently training, or just having a bad day? Maybe I can connect with you through this medium, and that’s worth it to me.

So I’ll keep banging on about this and that. I’ll try to stay consistent, even though my routine dropped off during my holiday. But routine and consistency are what it’s all about, in most things. So here I go.

Not sure if this is helpful but I guess what I'm taking from it is coming back to your why!!!

Lawrence x